Voacanga (Voacanga africana)

Voacanga africana, is a small tropical African tree that grows to 6m in height. It has leaves that are up to 30 cm in length, and the tree produces yellow or white flowers, which become berries with yellow seeds.

Traditional use:

The bark and seeds of the tree are used in Ghana as a poison, stimulant, aphrodisiac, and ceremonial psychedelic. These effects are due to the presence of a complex mixture of iboga alkaloids such as voacangine, vocamine, vobtusine, amataine, akuammidine, tabersonine, coronaridine and vobtusine.

A number of these compounds have pharmaceutical uses. Of particular pharmaceutical interest is voacangine, which is a common precursor in the semi-synthesis of the anti-addiction medication ibogaine. Other alkaloids from the plant such as coronaridine and voacangine may have an anti-addictive effect in their own right.